As a shortage of some cancer drugs and certain other medications persists, a U.S. senator from Minnesota is proposing legislation she says will help federal regulators address the problem.

Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, said Tuesday that the Food and Drug Administration should be given authority to expedite the approval process for importing drugs that are clinically equivalent to those subject to shortages in the U.S.

Klobuchar also wants to require drug companies to give FDA earlier notice of shortages, although she didn't offer specifics on how such a requirement might work.

The senator hopes to introduce the legislation next month. Klobuchar has scheduled a news conference for today at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina to explain her proposals.

"We have to figure something else out," she said Tuesday. "The way it's working now is not working as it should — and the problem seems to be getting worse."

A spokesman for drug manufacturers offered no response Tuesday, saying the industry trade group would need to see Klobuchar's proposals before commenting.

Word of shortages at cancer clinics in Minnesota surfaced this month with operators saying they've been scrambling to deal with a nationwide shortage of four chemotherapy drugs.

In most cases, the effect on patients has been limited to anxiety, although the shortages have resulted in some treatment regimens being altered.

At St. Paul-based Minnesota Oncology, one of the region's largest providers of outpatient chemotherapy, the shortage situation isn't improving, said Jan Merriman, the clinical and pharmacy director.
"When you look at the statistics, the number of drugs in short supply has doubled in the last five years," Merriman said Tuesday. "I definitely think it is unprecedented."

While Klobuchar has heard from constituents about the issue related to chemotherapy drugs, she noted that several other types of medications — a total of about 150 drugs — also are subject to current shortages.